Pedal-propelled vehicle



Oct. 9, 1928.

F. H. HEADLEY PEDAL PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed July 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,334

1 F. H. HEADLEY PEDAL PROPELLED vmucma Filed July 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz/022%.?"

ji7-ec2 MM eadlgy Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED: STATES PATENT apnea) FREDERICK HAGGER *HEADLEY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

- PEDAL-PROPELLED Application filed July 9, 192?,Seria1 Ira- 204,441, and in Great Britain January 25,1927.

The present invention has relation to a pedal propelled vehicle, more particularly a childs vehicle'such as a pedal propelled miniature motor car, the present invention having for its object to combine with a foot propelling means, a simple and eilicient form of variablefspeed mechanism adaptedfor ready-manipulation by the driver to .suit

the circumstances.

In order, that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried intov practice, reference may be had to the appended explanatory sheets, of drawings, upon which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a childs miniature motor car having variable speed pedal transmission mechanism constructed according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view of the complete vehicle illustrated in'Figure 1. t Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the variablespeed mechanism shown in the preceding figures.

Figure at is an elevational VIEW ofthe variable speed mechanism with parts, thereof in achanged position from that illustrated in the preceding figures, and Y Figure 5 isa longitudinal sectional elevation of the vehicle incorporating modified variable speed gear mechanism.

the driver.

Fig. 3.

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle a is provlded with 'two elongated vertical brackets or plates 1) one on each side of the vehicle, eachbracket or plate having a vertical slot 5 see more particularly Figure 3) These brackets b are connected by a transverse rod 0 whereon two independent U-shaped pedals d are pivotally suspended, each being capable of'oscillation by Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in e is the wheel axle, and gg' b. The lower extremities of the links slidingly cO-Operate, as at M, with the outermost vertical limbs of the U-shap'ed pedals d. The links I). are, h0wever,'united by. an integral connecting limb 72. which extends across thevehicle in parallelism with the transverse rod 0, so that theyoperate in unison. a is a bellcrank lever-pivoted at it upon the trans g? is a coil spring on the spindle 6 positioned between the springs of-thevehicle a and the sleeve 9 which coil spring tends to force the said sleeve into notched engagement with the stud 6 g is a bell'crank lever piv-,

oted at a point g and adapted to be rocked by a lever 9 throughgthe medium of a link 9 is a band brake operable by a lever The' other afilapted to engage a fixed stud e on the spin adapted to co-operate with the brake drum mounted directly upon the wheel spindle.

The pedals d and other respective transmissions h k 71} are entirely independent one 1 from another so far as their operation is concerned; 7 a

The wheels of the vehicle may be mounted upon forwardly and rearwardly extending pivotal radius arms Z supported by compression'springs Z 7 In operation the pedals are alternately oscillated bythe driver, to thereby intermittently rotate the free wheel clutches and impart a forward driving movementsto the axle c. The etlective stroke or'throwof the pedals (Z is varied by manipulating the handie 71 I such mani ulation causin the links 12. to be slid along the outer limbs of the pedals d in relation to their pivots. High speed is obtained as in Figure 1 when the transmission members h? are disposed remote from thepivot points-of the pedals d, and when slid towards said pivot points, (as'illustrated particularly in Figure l) the speed is lowered, it being'appreciated that the effective stroke is reduced the closer the transmissions are slid to the pivot points of the pedals, and vice versa. In order to enable the ve hicle to be wheeled backwardly and also to render the transmission inoperative at any desired time, the lever g is actuated, thereby sliding the sleeve 9 and its associate free wheel clutches. bodily on the shaft 6 until the parts 9 e are disengaged. Operation of the lever 7' enables the brake to be readily applied.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in -Figure 5, d are the pedals, and 71, are the transmissioncomponents, as in the preceding arrangement, the said components being adjustable upon the pedalsld by means of links '12 pivoted at/s to a U-shaped bail k itself pivoted at 73 to the vehicle,.an,d eX- tended to form a handle k lvlovement Of the handle causes the link/c to slide the transmission components 72, along the pedals d. fie is? is a toggle link construction adapted to steady the member 70 70 i andprevent any twisting thereof.

NVha t'I claim as my invention and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. vehicle of the kind described embodying thereina rotative member, a one way clutch member thereon, a swingable pedal member pivotedat one end, alink pivoted at oneend and hav ng lts other end operatively engaged with a part of said pedal member tobe actuated thereby, means connecting'said link and clutch member for actuating the same in one direction, and a spring arranged to move said clutch member and connecting meansin the other direction, the pivoted ends of saidpedal nemberand link being capable of a relative adjustment toward or away from each other to vary the effective throw ofsaid link without reducing the jswingable movement of the pedal member.

2. ,A vehicleof thekind described embodying therein a rotative member, a one way clutch member thereon, a swingable pedal member [pivoted at one end,va link pivoted at one, endand having its other end opera tively engaged with a part of saidpedal member 9 be: actuated thereby, means connecting saiddink and clutch member for actuating the same in one direction, a spring arranged tomove saidclutch member and connecting meansinjthe other direction, anda device to avhich said link is pivoted, said device being .Inovable to vary the distance between the pivoted ends of said link and pedal member respectively. v

3. Avehicle of the kind described embodying therein, a rotative member, a one way clutch rne nber thereon, a swingable pedal member piveted atone end a link provided at one end and having its other end operatively' engaged with a part of said pedal member to be actuated thereby, means con necting said link and clutch member for actuating the same in one direction, a spring arranged to move said clutch member and connecting means in the other direction, a plate having a slot therein, in which the pivoted end of said link is movable and means engaged with the pivoted end of said link forimoving itin said slottand for holding it in the desired position therein.

4. A vehicle of the class described embodyil mil 1 rrotative member, vi IQ y clutch member thereon, a normally pendant, swingable pedal member pivotedat. one end, a link pivoted at a point above that off said member, means connecting the link and clutch member for actuating the samein one direction only, spring means arranged to move said clutch member and connecting means in the other direction,an d means 'h'aw ing pivotal connection with thepivoted ends of said pedal and link to varytlfedistance'bQ- tween the same.

5. A vehicle of the class described embodys ing therein a rotative member, a one way clutch member thereon,. a normally pendant,

ing therein a rotative member, apair ofone way clutches thereon, a shaft arranged parallel with said rotative member, a pair of U shaped depending pedals, pivoted to said shaft, links each operatively engaged-atone end with a part of each pedal and'connected together atthe other end, a plate associated witheachlink and having a slot therein, in which said other end of the link is pivoted, a bell crank-pivotedon each-end of. the pedal shaft, a lever for operating one'bell "crank and means connecting eachlink with an associated bell crank.

7. In a mechanism of the kind described,

a pendantly hanging, swinging pedalmember, a swinging link carrying a roller at one end to engage said pedal member, and means providing a pivotalaxis for the otherend of said link, capable ofmovement toward'or away from thepedal member to vary the throw of the link without changing the throw Of the pedal.

8. A vehicle of the kind described embodying therein a'dri'ven shaft, a tubular sleeve thereon, means for connecting-and disconnecting said shaft and sleeve, acne way clutch member on said sleeve, a normally and a spring'arranged to move said clutch pendant pedal pivoted at its top end, a link member and connectingmeans in the other. 0 pivoted at one end and operatively engaged direction upon release from the driving at its other end with said pedal, said first movementof the pedal in one direction.

5 mentioned end being movable toward and In witness whereofIhave hereunto set my away from the pivoted end of the pedal, hand, I

means connecting said link and clutch mem- 4 Y her for actuating the same in one direction FREDERICK HAGGER HEADLEY. 

